Price's 1864 Missouri Expedition

AUGUST 29-DECEMBER 2, 1864 Itinerary of Price's Army

August 28.--General Price and staff left Camden and marched sixteen miles.
August 29.--Marched sixteen miles to Princeton. Fagan and Marmaduke reported.
General Price assumed command of cavalry and announced staff.
August 30.--Marched nine miles to Tulip. Raining all day. Wood's battalion
reported to Marmaduke. Orders left at Princeton for Colonel Harrison.
August 31 (Camp No. 4).--Near Claridy's, on Benton road. Sent back two iron
guns of Hughey's battery, not having suitable horses. Heard of Shelby cutting
railroad twice and capturing 2,500 men and eight companies of the Fifty-fourth
Illinois; twenty-five miles.
September 1 (Camp No. 5).--On Middle Fork of Saline River; Fagan on right
flank toward Benton; eighteen miles.
September 2 (Camp No. 6).--Road rough. Passed Goose Pond Mountain; nineteen
miles.
September 3 (Camp No. 7).--Road rocky and hilly; fifteen miles.
September 4 (Camp No. 8).--Marched fifteen miles to Dr. Hill's.
September 5 (Camp No. 9).--Cabell's brigade going over the mountain. Heard
that Brooks and Stirman had passed from Danville to Dardanelle on the 3d.
Weather warm and sultry. Joined by Fagan from the rear; eighteen miles.
September 6 (Camp No. 10).--At Dardanelle. Scouting parties of Federals on
north side of river this morning. Sent letter No. 11 to Col. S. S. Anderson.
Marmaduke's brigade and most of the train crossed the Arkansas River; fourteen
miles.
September 7 (Camp No. 11).--At Dover, having forded the Arkansas. A Federal
scout at Norristown this morning captured 6 horses from our pickets; fourteen
miles.
September 8 (Camp No. 12).--On Clinton road; Fagan moving on Springfield road;
thirteen miles.
September 9 (Camp No. 13).--Road rough and rocky; forage scarce; eighteen
miles.
September 10 (Camp No. 14).--On Little Red River, eight miles southeast from
Clinton. Companies of Federal jayhawkers disbanded on approach of army; a few
taken prisoners. Burbridge's regiment went by Clinton. Letter sent to General
Shelby by Captain Norman; twenty miles.
September 11 (Camp No. 15).--Road through Big Bottom of Little Red River.
Whole country around infested with deserters from Confederate army, 2 of whom
were killed; 1 of ours wounded. Fagan within eight miles, ahead; fourteen
miles.
September 12 (Camp No. 16).--After marching twelve miles on direct road to
Batesville, diverged to the left aver a road so mountainous as to be almost
impracticable; struck the river at a point eighteen miles above Batesville;
considerable damage to train; total distance traveled, thirty miles.
September 13 (Camp No. 17).--At Batesville. Forded the river one mile above
camp of yesterday; crossing good; marched along left bank of the river; town
completely deserted and destroyed. General Marmaduke and command, with
ordnance train, marched by Powhatan direct, marching up on the left; traveled
eighteen miles.
September 14 (Camp No. 18).--On Strawberry Creek. Returns and reports received
from General Shelby; thirty-two miles.
September 15 (Camp No. 19).--At Powhatan, another deserted village. General
Shelby with headquarters of his command at this point. Traveled fourteen
miles.
September 16 (Camp No. 20).--At Pocahontas, another deserted village and
ruined community. Jackman, McCray, and others reported. Army reorganized, as
per Orders, No. 8, on the 18th. Traveled eighteen miles.
September 19 (Camp No. 21).--At Indian Ford, on Current River. To-day the army
marched in three columns--Marmaduke on the right, Shelby on left, with Fagan
and the headquarters in the center. A scout of Federals at 10 a.m. to-day
burnt up Doniphan and retired; two scouting parties sent in pursuit. Marched
twenty-two miles and entered Missouri.
September 20 (Camp No. 22).--Marched to Ponder's Mill, on Little Black; passed
several houses burnt; women and children around the smoking ashes; the burning
done by a portion of the Twelfth Missouri (Federal),(*) commanded by Captain
[Lieutenant] Pape, the same that burnt Doniphan yesterday. This morning our
men attacked them at this point; killed a lieutenant and 3 men, wounded 4, and
took 6 prisoners. Our loss 2 killed and 5 wounded. We captured several horses
and small-arms; distance, twenty miles.
September 21 (Camp No. 23).--Marched to Cane Creek; forage abundant; heard
from Marmaduke; forty-two miles on march last night; found a Federal who had
crawled from the fight of yesterday to a house on roadside; distance, twelve
miles.
September 22 (Camp No. 24).--Marched to Greenville, county seat of Wayne
County; deserted; only two families in the place. Two companies of Federals
passed through toward Ironton to-day. Shelby took Patterson, killing 14 and
wounding several; took telegraph apparatus also; distance, twenty-two miles.
September 23 (Camp No. 25).--Marched to Cedar Creek; roads rough; distance,
eighteen miles.
September 24 ( Camp No. 26).--Reached Fredericktown; Shelby ahead of us,
Marmaduke behind; more killed by 14 than at first reported by Shelby. Citizens
generally Southern in sentiment; many coming to greet us; recruiting;
distance, twenty miles.
September 25.--Still at Camp No. 26 waiting for Marmaduke to come up. He
encamped eight miles off.
September 26 (Camp No. 27).--On Saint Francis. Shelby went by Farmington with
a view of cutting the railroad. Fagan drove in the Federal pickets at Arcadia
and took position before the town for the night; distance, twelve miles.
September 27 (Camp No. 28).--At Arcadia. This morning Fagan drove the Federals
from Arcadia, where they abandoned a very strong position. He also drove them
through Ironton. They fell back on Fort Davidson, in Pilot Knob. Fagan formed
on the south and east. Mar-maduke took possession of Shepherd's Mountain.
Heavy skirmishing all day and continued artillery firing by the enemy. About 2
p.m. charge made on the fort, but the men were repulsed, but reformed by
brigade commanders, but too late to renew the charge that night. Men placed in
position and ammunition replenished; distance, eight miles.
September 28 (Camp No. 29).--Enemy evacuated Pilot Knob last night; found many
stores of Government goods. (For number of guns, &c., taken, see reports.)
Twelve miles.
September 29 (Camp No. 30).--Passed through Caledonia and Potosi. At the
latter place General Shelby fought and captured ----- Federals. The enemy, who
left Pilot Knob under General Ewing, hearing of Shelby being in front, moved
off to the west. Marmaduke and Shelby started in pursuit last night. General
M. Jeff. Thompson arrived in camp. Rumors of Steele leaving Little Rock
doubted; distance, twenty-two miles.
September 30 (Camp No. 31).--At Richwoods. Lieutenant Christian arrived with
150,000 caps and dispatches from General Magruder. No news of enemy. Flag
captured at this place. General Fagan sent 300 men to De Soto. General Cabell
sent, with his brigade, to cut the Pacific and Southwest Railroad east of
Franklin; ten miles.
October 1 (Camp No. 32).--Near Saint Clair. Met Marmaduke and Shelby; returned
from unsuccessful pursuit of Ewing; many prisoners brought in, found
straggling. Report from De Soto: militia scattered and depot burned.
M[armaduke] and S[helby] destroyed the Southwestern Railroad for several
miles. Marmaduke and Shelby went on to Union to-night; distance traveled,
nineteen miles.
October 2 (Camp No. 33).--Joined Marmaduke and Shelby early in the morning;
found Cabell; returned, burned a bridge east of Franklin, and in the dawn
burned the depot and destroyed the railroad. Lieutenant-Colonel Wood also
returned from burning the bridge on the southwest branch over the Moselle.
General Clark went to Washington, on Missouri River; Federals retreated across
the river. Marmaduke ordered to Hermann with his division. Fagan and Shelby
encamped on road to Mount Sterling, eight miles from Union, making in all
fifteen miles.
October 3 (Camp No. 34).--Distance, fourteen miles.
October 4 (Camp No. 35).--Marched to Mount Sterling. One division crossed the
Gasconade; horrible road bottom, and bottomless mud on west side; raining all
day. Report from Marmaduke of his taking Miller's Bend and Hermann; distance,
seventeen miles.
October 5 (Camp No. 36).--Marched to a point beyond Linn. General Marmaduke
returned, having destroyed Osage (Gasconade) bridge, having taken Hermann and
Miller's Landing the day before. Shelby sent a force under Colonel Shanks to
destroy the Moreau bridge; distance, fourteen miles.
October 6 (Camp No. 37).--Marched to the Moreau. Crossing forced after some
resistance by the enemy. Shelby in front. Colonel Shanks mortally wounded.
October 7 (Camp No. 38).--Near Jefferson City. Fagan in front and the only
division engaged. Enemy in strong position, but driven from one position to
another, until about 3 p.m. they retired to their fortifications in and around
the city, when we formed in line to west and south of Jefferson. Cut the
Pacific Railroad. Loss very slight; ten [miles].
October 8 (Camp No. 39).--At Russellville. Finding the enemy to be strongly
fortified and in heavy force (12,000) in town, supported by 3,000 on north
bank of river, drew off in the morning, Fagan protecting the rear and
skirmishing all day; distance, fourteen [miles.]
October 9 (Camp No. 40).--On the Moniteau. Marmaduke in the rear. Several
skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry, who followed as far as California. Shelby
with Thompson's brigade went on to Boonville. Railroad destroyed from Lookout
west beyond California; distance, twenty-six miles.
October 10 (Camp No. 41).--At Boonville. All the people turned out to greet
us. Crossed a portion of command to north side, but recalled them. (See
Shelby's report of capture of the place.) About 300 surrendered; distance,
six,en miles.
October 11.--Enemy approached on Tipton road; was met and repulsed by Fagan's
command.
October 12.--Engaged slightly with enemy; recruiting; distributing goods. Left
Boonville at 10 p.m. and marched to Chouteau Springs (Camp No. 42); eleven
miles.
October 13 (Camp No. 43).--At Marshall's. Clark went across by Arrow Rock to
attack Glasgow; fourteen miles.
October 11 ( Camp No. 44).--At Jonesborough. Fagan came up, having been left
at the La Mine. Shelby left with a section to attack Glasgow from this side.
Thompson went to Sedalia; eight miles.
October 15 (Camp No. 45).--At Keiser's on Salt Fork; passed through Marshall;
rumors of the enemy on our left and rear; seventeen miles.
October 16.--Remained in camp; news of surrender of Glasgow. (See Clark and
Shelby's reports.) Thompson reports the enemy in force on road from Georgetown
to Lexington.
October 17.--News of the capture of Sedalia by Thompson; recruits coming in;
Federals enter Lexington on 16th.
October 18 (Camp No. 46).--At Waverly; twenty-two miles.
October 19 (Camp No. 47).--At General Shields' three miles south of Lexington.
Left Waverly at daybreak. Knowing that Generals Blunt, Lane, and Jennison,
with between 3,000 and 4,000 Federals, were at Lexington (Colorado, Kansas,
and Missouri troops), fearing they might make a junction with McNeil and A. J.
Smith, who were on Salt Fork and at Sedalia, made a flank movement to the left
after crossing Tabo, so as to intercept their line of march. Met the enemy
about four miles from Lexington on Salt Pond road; Shelby in front. Fought him
back to the old Independence road, when night closed the fight. Federals
evacuated by the river road; loss very slight; went home that night; distance,
twenty-six miles.
October 20 (Camp No. 48).--To Fire Creek Prairie. Scouts report enemy falling
back to the Blue; recruits from Chariton; twenty-two miles.
October 21 (Camp No. 49).--At Independence. At [Little] Blue met the enemy who
had burned the bridge; Marmaduke in front; fought and drove them back through
Independence. Shelby sustained M[armaduke] on his left; loss between 40 and
50; twenty-six miles.
October 22 (Camp No. 50).--Left Independence, Shelby in front; drove the enemy
toward Kansas City, then struck a column on the left in open ground; charged
and took a 24-pounder howitzer. In coming out of town in column enemy struck
Cabell on the flank and took 2 guns and cut off some 300 or 400 men. Marmaduke,
who was behind in town, fearing he might be taken prisoner, led Cabell's men
and cut his way to the command.
October 23 (Camp No. 51).--Enemy in position on prairie; attacked by Shelby,
assisted by Fagan with two brigades; drove the enemy five or six miles into
Westport. The column in rear under McNeil pushed Marmaduke and Clark until
Shelby and Fagan had to withdraw. Enemy threatened left flank of train; driven
off by drawing up the unarmed men in line. Encamped on Middle Fork of Grand
River; twenty-four miles.
October 24 (Camp No. 52).--At Potosi. Skirmishing with the enemy, who are
following in rear; thirty-three miles.
October 25 (Camp No. 53).--On Marmiton. When near the Little Osage, Shelby in
front and Marmaduke in rear, a dispatch received from Marmaduke stating that
the enemy were in sight about 3,000 strong, with the line still extending; a
brigade was ordered back from the front. Fagan stated on the note that he
would sustain M[armaduke], but before we could go back a mile we met the
command coming on in the most demoralized condition. The details can only be
given from the reports of those present. Marmaduke, Cabell, and Slemons taken
prisoners; 5 pieces of artillery captured, and the morale of the army ruined.
Everything hurried on, a mass of confusion, from which it took every exertion
to redeem it, but after crossing the Osage the enemy again appeared in sight,
but General Shelby was in the rear, and after an action of two hours they were
held in check until after dark, when the troops were withdrawn; twenty-eight
miles.
October 26 (Camp No. 54).--At Carthage. No enemy; left everything behind;
distance, fifty-six miles.
October 27 (Camp No. 55).--Encamped on Shoal Creek; enemy still far behind;
morale of the troops improving, but many desertions among Arkansas troops;
twenty-two miles.
October 28 (Camp No. 56).--Marched through Granby and Newtonia; a small
detachment at the latter place left night before; one cavalry company
remained; charged and routed; the captain (Christian, noted bushwhacker)
killed; encamped about four miles below Newtonia, when Blunt, with about 3,000
men, came upon us. He was met and signally repulsed by Shelby, sustained by
Fagan with cavalry, and driven for over three miles. Our train was moved
forward six miles; seventeen miles.
October 29 (Camp No. 57).--On Sugar Creek, five miles south of Pine-ville,
through which we passed. Nothing known of any advance on the part of the
enemy; twenty-six miles.
October 30 (Camp No. 58).--At Maysville, on line; headquarters in Indian
lands; seventeen miles.
October 31 (Camp No. 59).--Marched to Illinois River, near line of Arkansas;
twenty-six miles.
November 1 (Camp No. 60).--Marched to Boonsborough; raining all day; roads bad
and hilly; stock worn out; much of it abandoned. Reports from Colonel Brooks,
who was investing Fayetteville; asks aid; seventeen miles.
November 2.--In camp all day. General Fagan with re-enforcements went to
Fayetteville. Colonel Freeman, with his command, started for Northern
Arkansas. Colonel McCray ordered to go on the 3d and Colonel Dobbin on the
4th, to report south of Arkansas River on December 15, 20, and 25; raining
hard.
November 3.--In camp; rain and snow. Letter from Rosecrans.
November 4 (Camp No. 61).--Marched to Indian Territory; roads good; fourteen
miles.
November 5 (Camp No. 62).--Marched along Sallisaw River eighteen miles.
November 6 (Camp No. 63).--Marched to Arkansas River; twenty miles.
November 7 (Camp No. 64).--Crossed Arkansas River at Pheasant Ford; good
crossing; four miles.
November 8 (Camp No. 65).--Raining; ten miles.
November 9 (Camp No. 66).--Raining; nine miles.
November 10 (Camp No. 67).--Order for Cabell's and Slemons' brigades approved.
Slemons' command, commanded by Colonel Crawford, furloughed to December 10, to
rendezvous at Miller's Bluff. Cabell's brigade, commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Reiff, to rendezvous on December 10 at Spring Hill, Ark.;
twelve miles.
November 11 (Camp No. 68).--Shelby left behind on Canadian to recruit. Tyler
and Wood gone ahead. Wrote to General Maxey; fourteen miles.
November 12 (Camp No. 69).--Marched for good grazing at Gaines' Creek; two
miles.
November 13 (Camp No. 70).--Passed through Perryville. Three wagons of
supplies received; sixteen miles.
November 14.--Laid over in camp one day.
November 15 (Camp No. 71).--General Fagan ordered to establish his
headquarters at Washington, Ark.; seventeen miles.
November 16 ( Camp No. 72).--Seven miles.
November 17 (Camp No. 73).--At a point two miles south of Stand Watie's
headquarters; fourteen miles.
November 18 (Camp No. 74).--Raining. Colonel Tyler started to Clarksville; ten
miles.
November 19 (Camp No. 75).--Nine miles.
November 20 (Camp No. 76).--Nine miles.
November 21 (Camp No. 77).--Thirteen miles.
November 22 (Camp No. 78).--Crossed Red River. Clark went on to Clarksville;
Shelby caught up; sixteen miles.
November 23 (Camp No. 79).--Marched to Bonham; twelve miles.
November 24 (Camp No. 80).--Fourteen miles.
November 25 (Camp No. 81).--Ten miles.
November 26 (Camp No. 82).--Reached Paris.
November 27 (Camp No. 83).--Sixteen miles.
November 28 (Camp No. 84).--At Clarksville; fourteen miles.
November 29.--Remained at Clarksville. Thompson's command came up. Leave
granted to Shelby and other officers.
November 30.--Still at Clarksville. Order from Magruder received to march to
Laynesport.
December 1 (Camp No. 85).--Clark's command on the march. Thompson to move
to-morrow; eighteen miles.
December 2 (Camp No. 86).--At Laynesport. Crossed river; nineteen miles.
December 3.--Clark arrived and sent courier to Washington.
Whole distance marched, 1,434 miles.